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Five casualties of copter crash in northern Russia found

Transport Minister instructed to form specific committees and to conduct an urgent inspection of airplane operation in air company SPARK-avia which had operated a helicopter Mil Mi-8

MOSCOW, June 01, /ITAR-TASS/. Five casualties were found at the crash site of a helicopter Mil Mi-8 in northern Russia’s Murmansk Region, spokesman of the Russian Investigative Committee Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

“Five casualties were found. Forensic expertises were announced,” he said.

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Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov instructed the Federal Air Transport Agency and the Russian transport watchdog to form specific committees and to conduct an urgent inspection of airplane operation and to ensure security of flights in air company SPARK-avia which had operated a helicopter Mil Mi-8 which crashed in northern Russia’s Murmansk Region, the ministry’s website stated on Sunday.

“An inspection will be made according to federal aviation rules over worse flight security of the air company. The minister also urged to check how the air company observes effective aviation legislation to ensure flight security,” the website said.

Sokolov had a telephone conversation with acting Governor of Murmansk Region Marina Kovtun discussing co-operation to find causes and clean up aftermath of the tragedy.

According to different estimates, the helicopter Mi-8 that crashed in Murmansk Region was carrying from 11 to 19 people on Munozero Lake. Only two men survived, the fate of others is unclear yet.

Deputy Governor of Murmansk Region Sergey Skomorokhov, regional Minister of Natural Resources Aleksey Smirnov, Director-General of world’s largest high-graded phosphate ore producer Apatit Aleksey Grigoryev were aboard the crashed helicopter, a source in regional government said.

Criminal proceedings were opened under Article 263 Part 3 of Russia’s Criminal Code for violation of flight safety rules that entailed death of two and more people through negligence.

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